McGann-Mercy athletic director Paul Mastronardi, who previously coached at Eastport-South Manor, said he will coach football and lacrosse at Mercy, but would not be the head coach. (The Press News Group/Kerry Monaco photo)

From Mercy High School’s humble beginnings in the 1950s, when 47 students in a temporary building on Roanoke Avenue made up its inaugural class, the small Riverhead school has served as the East End’s home for secondary students seeking a Catholic education in a close-knit community. As the school expanded, eventually becoming Bishop McGann-Mercy Diocesan High School in 2002, students there continued to gravitate toward athletics as a part of their education.

The Monarchs, while successful at times in certain sports, have never been known as a powerhouse program.

Bishop McGann-Mercy High School’s production of Arthur Miller’s “Death of a Salesman” has been rescheduled to run from Thursday, Feb. 27 through Saturday, March 1, school officials said Wednesday. (more…)

GARRET MEADE PHOTO | McGann-Mercy football coach Jeff Doroski faces an uncertain future amid speculation that he will be replaced as the team’s varsity coach.

Word began to spread Wednesday evening among parents and players of the Bishop McGann-Mercy football program that popular varsity coach Jeff Doroski has been fired, the News-Review has learned. (more…)

Bishop McGann-Mercy High School hired Paul Mastronardi to become the school’s athletic director starting in mid-January, the school announced today. Mr. Mastronardi will replace John Lonardo, who resigned to pursue a business opportunity in the private sector, the school said.

Mr. Mastronardi has been a longtime coach and physical education teacher. He’s coached on the collegiate level at Villanova, St. John’s University and Stony Brook University. He earned the rank of lieutenant of special operations for the FDNY and coached two years with the semi-pro FDNY Bravest Football Club.

“We are very pleased to welcome Mr. Mastronardi to Bishop-McGann-Mercy Diocesan High School,” said principal Carl Semmier in a press release. “He comes with a strong leadership track record as well as high marks for his commitment to quality athletic programs.”

Mastronardi recently coached the Eastport-South Manor varsity football team. The Sharks went 7-1 this past fall in the regular season.

Two seniors from Bishop-McGann Mercy High School have received Suffolk Zone awards for promoting their healthy lifestyle and leadership skills.

Students Jacqueline Zaweski of Jamesport and Kurt Bahnke of Baiting Hollow received the honors during a Dec. 4 ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Hamlet Wind Watch Hotel, according to a press release issued by the school last Tuesday.

The awards were presented by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance to students that have made significant achievements in both their academics and physical education, officials said.

ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE SPORTS INFORMATION PHOTO | McGann-Mercy alumna LauraLynne Duffy received National All-Academic Team honors at St. Joseph’s College in Brooklyn.

Former McGann-Mercy High School student LauraLynne Duffy was recently named to the 2013 women’s soccer National All-Academic Team in recognition for her outstanding performance on the soccer field and in the classroom.

Duffy, a midfielder from Cutchogue on the St. Joseph’s College (Brooklyn) women’s soccer team, was one of four player on her team to be honored. The announcement came from the United States Collegiate Athletic Association.

A junior at St. Joseph’s, Duffy played in all 16 games for the Lady Bears and started 12. The Bears finished the season 5-11.

The USCAA National All-Academic Team members must be sophomore academic standing or higher and maintain a cumulative 3.5 grade point average to qualify.

Duffy is also a member of the swimming team at St. Joseph’s. She finished third in the 200-yard freestyle in the team’s meet against Lehman Friday. She was also fifth in the 100-yard freestyle was part of the third-place 200-yard freestyle team.

Duffy graduated in 2011 from Mercy, where she was also an active member of her school’s drama performances. She took home Best Lead Actress in the Teeny Awards as a senior, one of numerous awards she won during her high school career.